Agricultural & Applied Economics
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Undergraduate Majors and Certificates

Get the tools you need to understand the issues of today’s economy!

Our undergraduate programs allow you to explore topics in poverty and international development, environmental policy and climate change, managerial science, and more. We offer two majors: Agricultural and Applied Economics and Agricultural Business Management. Learn quantitative analysis skills that can be applied in a variety of industries.

Our department also offers certificate programs in Development Economics, and Business Management for Agricultural and Life Sciences to complement your undergraduate degree.

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Agricultural & Applied Economics Major (B.S. in AAE)

Build the analytical skills you need to understand today’s economy. Learn the economics behind some of today’s most pressing issues including food systems, international trade, climate change and environmental protection, poverty and more. This major also offers the opportunity to explores business economics and finance, economic development, biotechnology, land-use management, and community development. Majors graduate ready for careers in business, finance, sales, management, policy and industry.

Program Overview  Requirements  Sample 4-Year Plan

Agricultural Business Management Degree (B.S. in ABM)

If you’re particularly interested in business you’ll find Agricultural Business Management (ABM) ideally suited to your career goals. You’ll learn managerial economics, how businesses make decisions and minimize risk, and how to use applied mathematics and statistics to analyze prices and markets.

ABM students receive permission to take specified business courses that are normally reserved for students in the School of Business. The ABM degree is one of only five professional undergraduate degrees offered at the UW-Madison.

Program Overview  Requirements  Sample 4-Year Plan

Certificate in Development Economics

This certificate is for any undergrad students enrolled at UW-Madison who are interested in learning more about the global economy, understanding the roots of poverty, and investigating policy solutions!

Courses look at the impact of globalization on populations worldwide, and aim to help you use analytical skills to understand the impact of population growth on global economies. There’re also courses on the topics of environment and development, hunger and food security and regional courses on Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Choose the 15-credit Certificate in Development Economics to sharpen your understanding of some of the most pressing problems facing the global community.

Requirements  Certificate Declaration Form

Certificate in Business Management for Ag. & Life Sciences

The Business Management for Agricultural and Life Sciences Certificate is an excellent complement to your CALS (College of Agricultural & Life Sciences) degree. Develop business analysis, communications and problem solving skills to supplement your degree work and enhance your appeal to employers.

The certificate is 18 credits, and requires four core courses and two electives to be layered into your CALS degree plan. The required courses are offered in partnership with the Departments of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Life Sciences Communications, the Wisconsin School of Business and the Renk Agribusiness Institute. This certificate is available exclusively to CALS degree holders. Agricultural Business Management majors are ineligible due to course overlap.

Requirements  Certificate Declaration Form

AAE and ABM programs provide you with real-world ready skills. Students go on to a wide variety of jobs in industry and consulting, with large numbers of students finding employment as business analysts, sales representatives, and commodity specialists. The Job Placement and Salary Statistics Report lists potential jobs and employers for AAE/ABM graduates.

The undergrad resources page features some current internship and job postings relevant to AAE/ABM students.

The AAE department also offers AAE 267, a 1-credit career development seminar specifically for AAE/ABM major-declared students. Topics include resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, internship and job applications, writing, career exploration, and networking. Panelists include faculty, alumni, and employers.

There are scholarship, internship, study abroad, independent study and research opportunities for AAE/ABM students. Motivated students can pursue Honors in Research or complete a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree within five years through the 4+1 MSPO program.

You may also find your community in the following organizations/associations in agriculture, economic or business fields:

Want to be a Badger? All applicants must apply directly to the University of Wisconsin – get started here and/or plan a visit! Note that students who are interested in the Agricultural and Applied Economics or Agricultural Business Management majors should seek admission to the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences.

Current UW-Madison undergrads: ready to declare AAE or ABM? We’d love to have you! Make an advising appointment on Starfish or visit the advising page for more info!

Visit the Advising Page – connect with an advisor and learn about student resources!